- Mitte president Gerhard Pfister surprisingly resigned from his post this summer after nine years.
- He announced this during his party’s traditional Epiphany meeting.
- The party will elect a successor at the delegates’ meeting in Biel at the end of June.
Pfister told the media that nine years ago he announced his candidacy for president on the same occasion. It was always clear to him that 2025 would be the time to decide whether he would continue or not. He made his decision during fall break.
A milestone for the party
In a message to the centrist base, Pfister writes that his party’s performance in the 2023 elections with 14.1 percent of the vote and, for the first time, more seats in the National Council than the FDP is an “important milestone which shows that our course is straight.”
“After the successful implementation of Strategy 2025, the time has come to pass the baton. Now is the time to make room for new talent and the next generation,” Pfister continued.
President of the Center since 2015
Gerhard Pfister has been president of Mitte Suisse since spring 2015. He succeeded the current Valais state councilor and then national councilor Christophe Darbellay.
According to Pfister, he is “particularly proud” of “our clear positioning at the political center: with topics such as capping healthcare spending, equity initiatives and constructive European policy, we have shown what it looks like a solution-oriented policy.
Pfister had led the former CVP since 2015. In 2021, the merger with the BDP took place, from which the center was created.
KEYSTONE/Peter Schneider
With the equity initiatives presented in March 2023, the Center wants to eliminate the disadvantages that married couples face in AHV and direct federal taxes compared to unmarried couples.
Successful CVP-BDP merger
With Strategy 2025, the center has “achieved something historic”, continues Pfister: “the successful merger of the CVP and the BDP, the stabilization and expansion of our structures and the acquisition of new groups of voters” .
Strategy 2033 will now create a new basis for the work of the Center Party – “as a participatory movement close to the people, which invites new talents and builds bridges between regions and generations”.
Pfister remains national advisor
Asked about his future plans, Pfister said he would continue to focus on the central presidium over the next six months. After his departure from the party presidency, he will remain in the National Council.
He wants to stay in politics and will look for new tasks. When asked if he would consider running for the Federal Council, he replied that he was used to answering questions when they were asked of him. She is currently not showing up.
